Forensic science is the application of sciences such as physics, chemistry, biology, computer science and engineering to matters of law.
NIJ’s forensic science research and development program focuses on basic and applied scientific research with the intent to:
- Direct the findings of basic scientific research in broader scientific fields applicable to forensic science.
- Apply forensic science research to the development of highly discriminating, accurate, reliable, cost-effective, rapid methods for the identification, analysis and interpretation of physical evidence.
- Expand the scientific basis of forensic methods.
- Produce useful materials, devices, systems or methods that have the potential for forensic application.
- Increase the body of knowledge to guide and inform forensic science policy and practice.
On this page, find links to articles, awards, events, publications, and multimedia related to forensic sciences.
Publications and Grant Reports
- Paper Spray Mass Spectrometry for Rapid Drug and Drug Metabolite Screening Directly from Postmortem Blood Samples
- Implementation of NPS Discovery – An Early Warning System for Novel Drug Intelligence, Surveillance, Monitoring, Response, and Forecasting using Drug Materials
- Naturally-occurring DNA fragment termini correlate with methylation at CpG sites in hair and blood plasma cell-free DNA
Assessing and Reducing Variability in Friction Ridge Suitability Determinations
This event brought together practitioners and researchers to enhance information-sharing and promote collaboration among the impression, pattern, and trace evidence analysts, law enforcement, and legal communities.
The symposium was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence January 22-25, 2018.
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Sufficiency and Complexity Factors in Handwriting Examination
This event brought together practitioners and researchers to enhance information-sharing and promote collaboration among the impression, pattern, and trace evidence analysts, law enforcement, and legal communities.
The symposium was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence January 22-25, 2018.
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Developments in Footwear Investigations
This event brought together practitioners and researchers to enhance information-sharing and promote collaboration among the impression, pattern, and trace evidence analysts, law enforcement, and legal communities.
The symposium was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence January 22-25, 2018.
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Forensic Sampling and Analysis from a Single Substrate: Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Followed by Paper Spray Mass Spectrometry
This event brought together practitioners and researchers to enhance information-sharing and promote collaboration among the impression, pattern, and trace evidence analysts, law enforcement, and legal communities.
The symposium was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence January 22-25, 2018.
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Thematic Trends of Latent Print Examination Criticisms and Reports
This event brought together practitioners and researchers to enhance information-sharing and promote collaboration among the impression, pattern, and trace evidence analysts, law enforcement, and legal communities.
The symposium was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence January 22-25, 2018.
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Implementation of 3D Technology, Analysis, and Statistics for Firearm and Toolmark Examinations
This event brought together practitioners and researchers to enhance information-sharing and promote collaboration among the impression, pattern, and trace evidence analysts, law enforcement, and legal communities.
The symposium was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence January 22-25, 2018.
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Statistical and Testimony from the Practitioner and Juror Point of View - Panel Discussion
This event brought together practitioners and researchers to enhance information-sharing and promote collaboration among the impression, pattern, and trace evidence analysts, law enforcement, and legal communities.
The symposium was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence January 22-25, 2018.
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Objective Comparison of Striated Toolmarks Produced from Ten Consecutively Manufactured Cold Chisels Measured by Contact and Optical Surface Profilometry and Comparison Microscopy
This event brought together practitioners and researchers to enhance information-sharing and promote collaboration among the impression, pattern, and trace evidence analysts, law enforcement, and legal communities.
The symposium was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence January 22-25, 2018.
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Challenges Faced by Experts When Communicating Forensic Evidence to Triers of Fact - One Statistician's View
This event brought together practitioners and researchers to enhance information-sharing and promote collaboration among the impression, pattern, and trace evidence analysts, law enforcement, and legal communities.
The symposium was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence January 22-25, 2018.
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Statistical Error Estimation for an Objective Measure of Similarity to a Latent Image
This event brought together practitioners and researchers to enhance information-sharing and promote collaboration among the impression, pattern, and trace evidence analysts, law enforcement, and legal communities.
The symposium was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence January 22-25, 2018.
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Research Forensic Library
We invite you to also search the Research Forensic Library, a curated collection of publicly-accessible material relating to every discipline of the forensic sciences.
